Chargers QB Philip Rivers pays respect to Antonio Gates

The Los Angeles Chargers are unlikely to ever find a better duo than quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates. After finding out that Gates’ run with the Bolts is coming to an end after 14 years, Rivers had some remarks about one of his favorite targets of all time.

“I’ll miss him, that’s for sure. I’ll miss those special moments that I can’t really describe. It’s on the field, those conversations where I’ll give him just a pat here or there, but really, it’s just the day-to-day. We were next to each other for years. That’s what I’ll really miss the most. We had a long time together. The things we would laugh about and share, we would think the same things so many times,” Rivers said, per the Chargers official website.

It’s nearly impossible to discuss Rivers’ career without mentioning Gates. The seven-time Pro Bowl quarterback is certain that he wouldn’t be the player if it wasn’t for the teammate who had one of the strongest connections on and off the football field.

Gates will likely be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the strength of a very productive career, but he will be 38 years old in 2018 and Los Angeles has red-hot TE Hunter Henry. The Chargers also signed TE Virgil Green, which meant that his production would decrease if he was re-signed.

Gates remains an important figure in the history of the franchise. His entire NFL career has been a success against the odds. After playing basketball at Kent State, Gates had one of the most impressive careers after being signed as an undrafted free agent to only amass 927 catches for 11,508 yards and 114 touchdowns, which is the NFL scoring record by a tight end.

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